Freshman sire Pontiff , a winning half brother to sire of sires Pulpit, was represented by his first winner Oct. 29 when 2-year-old Octavius Prime won a maiden $20,000 claimer going a mile on the lawn at Golden Gate Fields.
Relocated from Washington to Daehling Ranch in Northern California for 2022, the 11-year-old son of Large’s Causeway is available for an advertised $2,500 fee.
Octavius Prime was bred by Warlock in Washington out of the Harbor the Gold mare Basket of Gold and races for that entity in partnership with Kyle Digges, Gena Loper, Hellen Myrick. Tim McCanna trains the colt, who earned $7,800 Saturday in scoring in his fourth career outing.
Shooting to the lead in the field of six, Octavius Prime set the pace through fractions of :24.69, :50.35, 1:15.67, and 1:28.83. He hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front under Frank Alvarado in 1:42.31 on firm turf.
Pontiff made $126,481 in capturing 3 of 35 starts. He is one of 12 winners produced by grade 1 winner Preach (Mr. Prospector), whose full sister Yarn is the dam of grade 1-placed/grade 2 winner and sire Tale of the Cat and multiple group 1 winner and sire Minardi . Yarn’s stakes-winning daughter Spunoutacontrol is the dam of grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner and sire Fed Biz , and the mare’s daughter Myth is the dam of multiple grade/group 1 winner, champion, and sire Johannesburg .
